Game 1 --- Box Score
Game 2 --- Box Score
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. --- The Bridgewater State
baseball team split a MASCAC doubleheader with Massachusetts
Maritime Academy this afternoon at Alumni Park. The Bears took the
first game, 7-4, and then dropped the nightcap of the twinbill,
3-2.
Bridgewater State (5-3, MASCAC) and the Buccaneers (3-3, MASCAC)
both leave the doubleheader with identical 14-7 records with the
split.
In game one, BSC righthander Dave Liffers
(Norwell, MA) picked up his third win of the season on the mound
for the Bears. Liffers (3-1) went five 2/3 innings giving up four
runs (three earned) on six hits while allowing one walk. Liffers
also struck out three batters.
Righthander Billy Martin (Virginia Beach, VA)
went the distance and absorbed his first loss of the season for the
Buccaneers. Martin (3-1) went six innings giving up seven runs on
eight hits to go along with three walks and three strikeouts.
Mass. Maritime opened the scoring with three runs in the top of
the third inning, highlighted by a two-run home run by junior
Mark Mozelak (New Hartford, CT-SS) and an RBI
single by senior Robert Weber (Norwell, MA).
Bridgewater State responded and promptly tied the score 3-3 in the
bottom of the second. BSC sliced the deficit with a two-run double
by junior Brad Koneski (N. Dighton, MA-CF) and
knotted the score when Koneski came around to score on an RBI
single by sophomore Mark Claffey (Bellingham,
MA-3B).
The Bears opened the game up scoring four runs in the bottom of
the third, highlighted by RBI singles by senior classmates
Dana Hansen (Hanover, MA-DH) and JT
Mooney (N. Attleboro, MA-RF/LF).
After Liffers gave up three runs in the second he settled down and
retired 10 of 11 batters going into the top of the sixth inning.
With one out in the sixth, Mass. Maritime hit back-to-back singles
and added a run when senior Gabe Stallions (Onset,
MA-DH) scored from third on a ball that was misplayed in the
infield.
The Buccaneers loaded the bases on a walk, with two outs and
threatened to score more runs. Liffers was relieved by junior
Tim Bonham (Marshfield, MA), who got BSC out of
the jam with a ground out to end the inning.
Senior Brian Schilling (Weymouth, MA) came into
the game in the seventh and retired the side to pick up his third
save in as many opportunities, notching a pair of strikeouts.
In game one, Hansen and Mooney finished the game 2-for-3. Mooney
scored twice and added an RBI while Hansen crossed the plate once
and plated one run.
For MMA, Weber went 2-for-3 with an RBI while Mozelak went 2-for-3
with two RBI’s and a run scored. Stallions went 1-for-3 added
a pair of runs scored.
In game two, sophomore David Hike (Riverview, FL)
earned the win on the mound for the Buccaneers. The southpaw went 5
1/3 innings giving up one run while scattering four hits. Hike also
allowed three walks and struck out two batters.
Mass. Maritime freshman Nick Levitre (Grafton,
MA) earned the save after relieving Hike in the sixth inning.
Levitre allowed one walk and struck out three.
Sophomore Spenser Hatstat (Clinton, MA) dropped
his record to 2-3 in the loss for the Bears. Hatstat went three 1/3
innings giving up two runs (one earned) on two hits. He also
allowed four walks and struck out two.
Hatstat was relieved by sophomore Ben Altman
(Taunton, MA) who went two 2/3 innings giving up one run while
scattering four hits.
The Buccaneers broke into the scoring column first in the third on
a sacrifice fly by senior AJ Garstang
(Southington, CT-RF).
Mass. Maritime added another run in the fourth to go up 2-0. After
Hatstat started the inning with a strikeout, he allowed a single
and a walk to put runners on first and second. Altman entered the
game and induced a fielder’s choice groundout to get the
runner at second. Mozolak added the second run of the game on some
heads-up base running as he went to third on ground ball and
scampered home on the throw to first as BSC tried to turn the
double-play.
Weber added a key insurance run when he plated junior
Tyler Sporfford (Sharon Springs, NY-LF) in the top
of the sixth to put the Buccaneers up 3-0.
The Bears cut into the lead when junior Kenny
Downey (Braintree, MA-2B) belted two-run double to make
the score 3-2, off of Levitre.
Levitre then remained in the game in the bottom of the seventh and
pitched a perfect seventh to notch the save.
Downey and Hansen each went 1-for-2 for the Bears in the game two.
Downey collected two RBI’s while Hansen added a run
scored.
Freshman Will Rodrigeuez (Lowell, MA) went
2-for-3 while five other players finished the game with at least
one hit for Mass. Maritime.
The Bears will play four games in the next week. BSC will take-on
Eastern Connecticut tomorrow at 4 o’clock and then face
nationally ranked Wheaton at home on Friday at 3:30 P.M.
Bridgewater State will then continue MASCAC play and entertain a
double-header against Westfield at noon on Saturday.
The Buccaneers will host Gordon tomorrow at 3 and a double-header
against MASCAC foe Framingham State on Saturday at noon.
Release written by Steven M. Miller, Jr. --- Sports Information Correspondent